Michigan Democrats propose middle class tax relief WITH VIDEO

Michigan Democrats say their nine-stop listening tour across the state is completed and that people want to reverse policies enacted by the Republican-controlled legislature in Lansing.

Specifically, Democrats are looking to reverse some specific reforms pushed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in his first two years in office.

They released their own legislative agenda Monday that includes:

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o Repealing the tax on seniors' retirement income.

o Restoring the state's per-child tax deductions.

o Restoring the state's Earned Income Tax Credit to 11 percent.

o Restoring the state's Homestead Property Tax Credit.

Democrats also want to increase per pupil funding for public education by $320, ensure existing transportation funds are used for road construction and increase access to family planning services for women.

But with the April 15 deadline approaching to file state and federal income taxes, it's the tax proposals that are getting a lot of attention, says state Rep. Tim Greimel, an Auburn Hills Democrat who is the Democrats' leader in the Republican-controlled House.

"People are very upset," Greimel said. "They're very upset as they're preparing their tax returns that the governor and legislative Republicans have enacted one of the largest tax increases on middle class families the state has ever seen, and people are understandably upset about it."

Both business and personal tax changes were early priorities of the governor when he took office slightly more than two years ago.

Democrats have long criticized the governor and Republicans who control the House and Senate for giving tax breaks to corporations at the expense of the loss of deductions and credits for middle class taxpayers.

But Greimel concedes that odds are virtually nil that Democrats will have their agenda enacted either this year or next because of the Republican majority.

"I think there are sympathetic Republicans in the Senate and House," Greimel said. "The problem is the Republican majority doesn't have to allow these proposals to come up for a vote.

"It's going to take Democrats taking back state government before we can enact the repeal of these burdensome taxes on middle class families," he said.

The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and all 148 members of the state House and Senate are up for election in 2014.

Contact Charles Crumm at 248-745-4649, charlie.crumm@oakpress.com or follow him on Twitter @crummc and on Facebook. More information is at oaklandmichiganpolitics.blogspot.com. Keep up with the latest in local news by texting OPNews to 22700. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.